The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-06-01
Decoration Day.

DECORATION Day.
Monday Decoration Day. was gener-
ally observed in this city. The pro-
gramme. as laid out by Major G. A. An
gel Post, and published last week, was
fully carried out. At $50 p. m. the
Post and Co. @, of the 18th Regiment,
marched to the soldiers monument in
Mt. Hope Cemetery, whore a platform
had been built and handsome floral
decoration erected ssTo the Unknown
Dead.
After singing by the choir and prayer
by Rev. w. Swan, of the Presbyterian
Church, of this city. Capt. @. Fl. w.
Van Solver introduced Col. J. r. @.
Ward, Of Philadelphia, in neat speech,
who delivered an excellent and patriotic
address. which will be found below. Af-
ter dirge by the band, the graves in
st. Johns aud Mt. Hope Cemeteries
were decorated. Three volleys were
fired by Co. c, and the veterans and the
military returned from the cemetery and
paraded through our principal streets.
The attendance upon the exercises at
the cemetery was larger than for years
past. Among those present we're the
Mayor and Common Council of this city,
who appeared officially. They honored
themselves and the day by their action.
ADDRESS BY COL. J. R. G. WARD.
Another year has passed swiftly by,
and once moro have we assembled to pay
tribute to our dead, our dead. Yes OUR
dead; they belong to us. Made ours by
the strongest ties that bind man to man,
ties that were welded together in the fire
Of battle, cemented together by the long
years of suffering privations and toll en-
dured together, ties that bound us to-
gether during the many long and weary
marches, under the burning summer sun,
and by frosts of winter, ere they not oUR
dead Can any one else claim them? |
am not nnmindful of the widow and or
phan, who mourn for a husband and
father gone, but when they enrolled
themselves beneath that starry flag and
country, they became OUR Comrades; we
marched side by side, we slept beneath
the same blanket, we stood shoulder to
shoulder in the same battle, they were
still our comrades, and now that death
has claimed them, whether amid the
storm of shot and shell, or the rattle of
musketry in battle, or by disease through
privation and exposure, or by starvation
in prison pens, shall we give them up ?
No they are still ours, ours to honor,
ours to emulate, and ii necessary ours 70
die for, so with reverend hearts we meet
on this beautiful day in spring time,
gathering together springs choicest flow
ers, to decorate their final resting place
on this earth, and with their spirits how
ering over us, we mingle our tears with
the widow and orphan who meet with us
to-day, to again show forth their love and
devotion to their loved ones who now
sleep quietly beneath these green mounds.
Yes,
Bring flowers to strsw again
With fragrant purple rain
OF lilacs and roses white and red,
The dwellings Of our dead, our glorious deai
Let the bells ring solemn funeral chime
And wild war-music bring anew the time
When they who sleep beneath,
Were full Of vigorous breath,
Aud in their iusty manhood SAILED fo.sh.
Holding In strong right hand
The fortunes of the land"
Eyes bring fre7h flowers and strew the soldiers
grave,
Whether he proudly Hes
Beneath our northern skies
Or where the southern palms their branches wave.n
Are there any here to-day who ask
why this assembling of men with martial
tread, with flags flying and music pealing
forth the solemn march ? and why these
lowly graves are covered with the beauti-
full flowers of spring? Let me say to them
that these are the survivors Of the great
Armies of the Republic, who went forth
az the Nations call, when It's life was In
danger, when traitorons hearts were plot
ting its destruction, and traitorous hands
seizing its property, resolved to die II
need be, but that our country must re-
main undivided and our flag unsullied,
aud in each one of these lowly graves Ii )
q hero, one who with us sprang to arms,
leaving wife and children, "foisaking the
pursuits and plea sures of civil life, !" and
with gun and sword, determin, to die,
rather than submit to such treason. So
war began, and tho roar of its thunder
reached the utmost parts of our beloved
land. They responded to the repeated calls
the west, from the north, ay and even
1--WE are coming father Abraham 3C0, COO
strong" So they came bearing their
breas,s to the fire Of battle, falling By the
wayside under the scorcbing summer sun,
by disease engendered in the swamps and
marshes of the south, or from exposure of
winters severe blast, or perhaps have
~. a. 4
received. or disease contrac ed there, and
have been gathered together and laid to
rest here. Not only here but In the
countless cities of the dead, in every city,
town and hamlet 10 our land, and to-day,
while we are assembled here, can also be
seen 10 nearly every church-yard In our
land, the sane beautiful and touching
ceremonies being performed by the same
surviving brave men who went forth with
them, and attended and ably assisted by
the same sympathizing friends see
around me here, and we bow la reverence
and gratitude to the great Father of all,
the God of battles, that he has spared our
lives and permitted us once more TO meet
here and join hands and hearts with those
left to mourn for the dear ones who now
sleep around us.
awe mourn for all, but each dotiS think OF one
More precious to the heart than aught beside
Some father, brother husband or some son,
Who came not back, or coming, sank and died,
In him the whole sad list Is gl0rihed.
He fell at Richmond In the seven long days,
When battle ragged from morn till blood dewed eve,
And lies there one pale widowed mourner says,
And knows not most to triumph or to grieye.
MY boy fell at Fair Oaks another signs,
"A nd mine at Gettysburgi hts neighbor cries.
And at that great name each sad eyed listener